Cistern-forming device.



PATENTED MAY 24, 190 1.

W. M. MGNEIL. GISTERN FORMING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

A TTORNE THE Noums nnzns co. More-um... WASHINGTON, D. c

atented. May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. MONEIL, OF PORTLAND, INDIANA.

ClSTERN-FORMING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,912, dated May 24,1904.

Application filed September 21, 1903. Serial No. 173,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MCNEIL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Portland, in the county of Jay, and in the Stateof Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gistern-FormingDevices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My present invention relates to cisternforming devices, or moreparticularly to a mechanism composed of cooperating and interdependentparts arranged and combined for the purpose of providing a form formolding cisterns or the like expeditiously and of a predeterminedcapacity.

The principal object in view is to provide a simple, durable, highly-efficient, and lightweight device for formingcement cisterns or thelike in a minimum of time and with a maximum of accuracy.

Another object in view is the provision of an improved article ofmanufacture which may be made and sold at a comparatively low price,which will be easy of operation, may be readily assembled anddisassembled, will be positive in action and accurate in theaccomplishment of its intended results, and artistic and perfect in thecompleteness of its resultant formations.

A more specific object is to provide a device with which cisterns or thelike may be formed of one or more heights providing ample and readymeans for the support of the crown or roof of the construction beingformed thereby and expeditious means for the removal of the device afterthe plastic compost construction has become somewhat hardened or set.

Other objects and special advantages of my invention will appear fromthe following specification and from the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof.

My improvements herein set forth render the production ofperfectly-formed cisterns or the like practical with a minimum of manualor mechanical energy, solving many of the My invention consists in adevice of the class set forth embodying certain new and useful featuresand details of construction and relative disposition of parts,substantially as hereinafter particularly set forth, illustrated in thedrawings, and incorporated in the claims hereunto appended.

' The manner of carrying out my invention is clearly shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionof my mechanism assembled, showing the interior and taken on the line YY of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section of same, taken on theirregular line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a portionof the center post and the mechanism operative thereon. Fig. 4L is anisometrical inside view of two of the sections or stays slightlyseparated. Fig. 5 is a detail inside view of a portion of two sections,same being the two to be last positioned in assembling the device; andFig. 6 is a detail plan of the ends of two adjoining sections somewhatenlarged.

Similar indic'fes refer to and denote like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

My improvements herein shown and described are intended, primarily,foruse informing cement cisterns within the ground. However, it will beseen that at least some of the parts are applicable in connection with atankforming device, as specifically described and claimed in myapplication relating thereto filed simultaneously herewith and bearingsame date thereof and serial number next thereto.

In the accompanying drawings my present invention is shown in detail, inwhich the letter A denotes the earth inclosing the cistern. The cisternproper consists of the bottom B, the vertical wall C, the sloping top D,and the neck E. The sections complete are shown most clearly in Fig. 4:and in being assembled are placed in pairs one above the other, as shownin Fig. 1, two sections thus placed forming a length equal to the heightof the body of the cistern. All of the sections, both of an oblongslightly-curved metal plate 1. Along the edge of one of the sides of theplate 1 is a rib 2, and across the top and bottom are the cross-ribs 3,which latter each extends from the rib 2 to near the opposite edge ofthe plate 1, as shown. Secured to the inner face central of the upperand lower ribs 3 parallel with the rib 2 is a brace 41-, the center ofwhich is deflected to touch the plate 1, where it is permanently securedby a rivet or other Wise, the ends of the brace being secured to theupper and lower ribs 3 by rivets or bolts, as indicated. By the above itis seen that the rib 2 stiffens one edge of the plate 1, the ribs 3 thetop and bottom edges, and the brace 4: the center thereof. By thearrangement shown a tongue is formed of the edge of the plate 1 oppositethe rib 2, which tongue may overlap the plate of the adjoining section,or a space may be formed between the rib 2 and the plate 1 to receivethe tongue of the adjoining section.

Near the free end of each of the ribs 3 is a staple 5, securing looselythe elongated link 6, and near the opposite end of each rib 3 is apivoted L-shaped dog 7, adapted. to be revolved but not removed. Whentwo sections are brought opposite to each other, as in Fig. 1, they maythen be brought together, as in Fig. 6. The dogs 7 are then turned topoint toward the staples 5, and the links 6 of the opposite section arethen placed over the shank of said dogs, and the dogs are then turned inthe opposite direction, as in Fig. 6, which .will lock the two sectionstogether in the manner shown in Figs. -1, 2, and 6.

Placed vertically through the ribs 3, near each end thereof, areapertures 8, by which the lower rib of the upper section may be securedto the upper rib of the lower section by a pin or bolt 9, as in Fig. 1.

In practice a hole is first formed in the earth A to the proper depthand of proper circumr ference, which will be somewhat greater than theouter circumference of the assembled de, vice. A row of sections is thenset up resting on the bottom of the excavation and arranged in circularform, as in Fig. 2, bringing the edges of opposite sections together andsecuring them as described and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. In orderto provide means for the disassembling of. the device after its work hasbeen accomplished, the adjoining edges of two of the sections aresomewhat modified to form the construction shown at one point in Fig. 2and in detail in Fig. 5. In the ends of the. ribs of one of saidsections are permanent dowel-pins a, and in the case of the oppositemodified section the ribs 3 are formed shorter than in the precedingsections, with a horizontally-disposed bolt 10 projecting inward andhaving a threaded nut thereon.

The numeral 11 denotes an angle-iron of same width as the ribs 3, onwhich it contacts, having a longitudinal slot 5 in its longer portion,through which slot may pass the inner end of the bolt 10, with said nuton the bolt 10 adapted to secure said angle-iron at various pointsagainst the face of the rib 3, as shown in Fig. 5. Through the shortportion of the angle-iron 11 is a hole adapted to receive said pin a ofthe oppositesection. After all of the other sections are positioned thetwo modified sections are inserted with the metal portion 1 of thesection having the angle-iron overlapping the mctal portion of theopposite modified section, and the disparity between the two sections isthen compensated for by moving the angle-iron 11 toward the oppositesection, entering the pin a in said hole in the angle-iron, and then bytightening the nut of the bolt 10 the first or lower tier of sectionsare assembled in substantially the manner shown and described.

The upper tier of sections are of identical construction and areassembled as the aforesaid lower sections, with the lower ends of theupper sections resting on the upper ends of the lower sections, andthetwo tiers of sections are connected and secured together by the pinsor bolts 9, as above set forth. After the said two tiers of sectionshave been assembled I-then place thesquare center pole 12 vertically inposition with its lower end resting on the bottom of the cistern or onthe earth at the bottom of the excavation with its upper end extendingabove the surface of the ground. I

The numeral 13 represents a circular disk of an outside diameter thesame as the interior diameter of the neck E of the cistern, with acentral opening through said disk to allow the center pole to slidethercthrough. Extending up from two opposite sides of opening in saiddisk are straps 14, formed, preferably, of strap-iron or other thinmetal. Said straps are secured at their lower ends to said disk 13 andthen extend upward along the side of the pole 12, with their upper endsbent outwardly at right angles to form handholds, and through saidstraps are oppositely-disposed holes to receive the securing-pin 15thereacross, as shown in Fig. 1, and through the pole 12 are a series ofholes, as indicated in Fig. 3, also to receive said pin 13 and by whichsaid disk may be secured at the desired point on the pole 12, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3.

The numeral 16 denotes a smaller disk below the disk 12, also slidableon the pole 12, and is adj ustably connected to the disk 13 by the twoconnecting-irons 17, which latter are secured to the under side of thedisk 13 and then extend down parallel with the pole 12 and pass throughslots formed through the disk 16, and a series of holes are formedthrough the lower portions of the irons 17, as shown in Fig. 3, wherebythe disk 16 may be raised or lowered independent of the disk 13 andsecured by inserting pins through said holes in the irons 17 below thedisk 16. Resting on or secured to the periphery of the disk 16 andradiating outward and upward therefrom are a plurality of arms 18,having notched upper ends, as shown in Fig. 3.

The numeral 19 indicates a two-part ring having at two opposite points ahinge, as indicated in Fig. 2, whereby it may be folded together inorder that it may be passed through the neck E of the cistern, saidringbeing adapted to rest on the notched ends of the arms 18, as shown inFig. 2.

After the device is assembled to the point above stated I arrangecrown-sheets of any well-known construction with their outer endsresting on the tops of said upper sections and with their inner endsengaged with or supported by the disk 13, which may be accomplished in avariety of ways, with their center portions resting on the ring 19,which forms the principal support therefor. I then fill in the spacebetween the earth A and the sections with a compost of plastic cement orthe like and also place a like thickness of the same over thecrown-sheets and then form the neck E in any well-known manner. Afterthe cement has sufficiently hardened I remove the pin 15, thus allowingthe disks 1?) and 16 to slide down the pole 12, carrying with them thering 19, consequently removing the main support for the crown-sheets,thus allowing them also to fall to the bottom ofthe cistern or to beeasily removed singly. The said parts are then removed from the cisternand the sections are dissembled and also removed one by one.

The bottom B may be formed either before or after the formation of thesides of the cistern, as desired.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the device to be only eightsections in circumference, simply as a matter of convenience, whereas inactual practice a greater number of sections will be employed ordinarilyin order to attain the desired circumference and at the same time makethe sections handable.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have produced an improvedcistern-forming mechanism embodying the objects otherwhere referred toin this specification and appearing in the accompanying drawings.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to mefor carying out my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do notrestrict myself to the exact details of construction shown anddescribed, but hold that any slightchanges or variations in such detailsas would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fallwithin the limits and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and the best means forits construction and operation to me known at this time,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. A cistern-forming device consisting of an upper and a lower tier ofseparable sections temporarily connected to form a vertical drum, acenter post extending through and above the drum thus formed, a diskmovable on said post, means for securing said disk to ,said post atdifferent elevations, a second smaller disk below the first-named diskalso movable on said post, means for suspending the second disk from thefirst disk adjustably, arms extending upward and outward from the lowerdisk with shoulders formed in their upper ends, and a two-part hingedring supported by the shoulders of said arms, all substantially as shownand described and for the purposes set forth.

2. A cistern-forming device consisting of an upper and a lower tier ofseparable sections, each of said sections consisting of an oblong plate,a rib secured along one of the sides and a rib secured across each ofthe ends of said plate leaving a tongue formed of the free edge of saidplate, a brace extending between the end ribs and secured in the centerto the center of said plate, and means for securing together thesections thus formed, substantially as shown and described. 1

3. A cistern-forming device consisting of an upper and a lower tier ofseparable sections, each of said sections consisting of a metal plate, arib secured along one of the longer edges of the plate and forming agroove between it and the plate, a rib secured across the top and oneacross the bottom edges of said plate and extending from the first-namedrib to near the opposite edge of said plate, a staple carrying anelongated link, said link loosely secured by said staple, said staplebeing secured near one end of said cross-ribs, an L-shaped revoluble dogmounted in the opposite portion of said cross-ribs with means wherebysaid link may be placed over the dog of the opposite section and securedby turning the dog to lock the adjoining sections to gether, all.substantially as shown and described.

4. A cistern-forming device consisting of a plurality of sectionsadapted'to be set up forming a circle, the adjoining edges of the lasttwo sections having means for varying the circumference of the assembleddevice, said means consisting of angle-irons having a longitudinal slotin their longer portions, a bolt adjustably securing said angle-iron,and means for engaging and securing the outer end of the angle-iron tothe opposite section, all substantially as shown and described.

5. A cistern-forming device consisting of an upper and lower tier ofseparable sections, each of said sections formed of a curved plate, ribssecured across each end and along one of the sides of the sections, abrace extending between the end ribs and bent in and secured near thecenter to the body of the section, means for completed, allsubstantially as shown and deto securing the sections together to form apair scribed.

of circular drums with one drum resting on In testimonywhereofIhavehereunto signed the other, a center post adapted to beplaced my name to this specification in the presence through said drumsvertically and to extend of two subscribing Witnesses.

thereabove, a crown covering the top of the WILLIAM M. MONEIL. uppersections and resting thereon, means for Witnesses: supporting the crownin the center and for R. W. RANDLE,

withdrawing its support when the cistern is R. E. RANDLE.

